Turmeric is a commonly used, ancient and traditional Indian Spice. The Scientific
name of turmeric is Curcuma Longa. Its belongs to Zingiberaceae family. Turmeric is a tropical perennial herbs, which was cultivated in India since ancients time. The storage shoot or rhizome is the part, that is used as the spice.

Light black or red soil & hot and humid climate is the proper conditions for turmeric
harvesting. In Southeast Asia the rootstalk is sown around the Spring season. The leaves of this plant start turning yellowish after 7- 10 months of plantation. In India, harvesting season of turmeric is December to March.

Marco Polo was first to describe about Turmeric in his famous writing "Travels in China". Erode, a city of the South Indian state Tamil Nadu, is the world's largest producer and important trading center of Turmeric in Asia. That's why the city also known as "Yellow City, Textile City or Turmeric City". Maharashtra, is the Second largest trading center for Turmeric in Asia.

Turmeric is known in several names like - Haldi in Hindi; Halud and Pitarus in Bengali; Haldhar, Haldi in Gujarati; Arishina in Kannada; Halad in Konkani; Manjal in Malayalam; Halad, Halede in Marathi; Yaingang in Meitei; Haladi in Oriya; Haldar, Haldhar, Haldi in Punjabi; Haladi, Haridra, Harita in Sanskrit; Manjal in Tamil; Pasupu in Telugu; Haladi in Urdu.

Turmeric has long been used in both Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine as an anti-septic and anti-inflammatory, to treat digestive and liver problems, skin diseases, and wounds. The curcumin in turmeric has been shown to stimulate the production of bile by the gallbladder. Curcumin is also a powerful antioxidant; antioxidants help to scavenge the damaging particles in the body known as free radicals, that damage cell membranes, tamper with DNA, and even cause cell death. Turmeric also use to treat Arthritis,
Arteriosclerosis, Cataract, Cholesterol, Crowns disease, Psoriasis and others. It is also considered as a natural blood purifier.

Turmeric may helps to prevent lower breast cancer risk.

In some places, turmeric not only use as a spice, but also it is used in different ceremony in India. In West Bengal turmeric paste is applied to the new bride and groom before marriage ceremony for glowing skin and bacteria free body. Turmeric is a good
sunscreen too, which helps to prevent skin cancer. It is also used in different kinds of Puja's, like Ganesh Chaturthi, Laxmi Puja, South Indian Festival Pongal etc.

Turmeric also a compulsory ingredient of almost all Indian dishes.

Make a paste of Besan, Dahi (plain curd), pinch of turmeric powder with some drops of lemon, apply this paste on face. Keep until dry. Daily use of this paste will definitely improve skip tone as well as remove blackheads. Eat a minimum quantity of turmeric with jaggery (made with sugar cane) in every morning in empty stomach for healthy skin, liver and improved digestion.